Blackpool 1 Barnsley 1: Reds hold on for point

Barnsley had to settle for a point against lowly Blackpool after throwing away a half-time lead.

It was a tale of two halves for Lee Johnson’s side who couldn’t have got off to a much better start when Conor Hourihane fired them ahead after just eight minutes. And a fine goal it was too.

Marley Watkins broke into the box on the right before picking out Hourihane in the area who guided the ball past Colin Doyle.

Some would say it was a scuffed effort from the midfielder, but it mattered not.

For the rest of the half it was a walk in the park for the cruising Barnsley side, although Johnson would have been disappointed not to have turned the dominance into chances.

Blackpool keeper Doyle was however called into action on 38 minutes when Sam Winnall fired at him from range.

The home side changed formation at the break and it caused Barnsley real problems before Jack Redshaw fired Pool level.

He combined with the lively Brad Potts on 55 minutes to finish well from 12 yards.

Johnson introduced Michael Smith in place of Winnall with just over a quarter of an hour later and it did give the Tykes a boost, particularly when Hourihane forced a brilliant save out of Colin Doyle late on.

In the end Barnsley had to settle for a point in a game which they could easily have lost in the dying moments.

Keeper Nick Townsend coming to their rescue with a superb save to deny Redshaw at the death.